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Losses and grief are rekindled at this time of year; adults may feel lonely and left out; children may remember the holiday when both parents were together and the world felt safe and secure for your children.

Whether it is Hanukkah or Thanksgiving, Christmas or Winter Solstice, New Year's Eve or a festival of light, the human instinct to move closer to the source of light and life intensifies when the world around us grows darker and colder.

Last Thursday night, Travis Air Force Base in California held its annual Christmas tree lighting. In a lame attempt to avoid complaints of not being religiously inclusive, a small menorah was included in the base's "holiday" display along with the tree and a nativity scene.

Chanukah comes to an end this week. It is the holiday of extending and holding the light. Mr. Mandela did just that in his lifetime. Perhaps he has passed the torch to all of us who admired his life. It would be a privilege and duty to keep this flame of social justice burning.

My eyes filled with tears thinking about the many miracles that had to transpire to make this moment possible: a young nation imperfectly fighting its way toward a more perfect union, expanding circles of freedom, a deep commitment to religious liberty and diversity.

We're eating Manischewitz-brined turkey with latkes, 11 of us, lighting candles for Hannukah in a mishmash of celebration. There's my father and mother, friends for more than 50 years. My mom's two ex-girlfriends are also here, these women who have known me, and loved me, for decades.

It was a big weekend with the Thanksgiving holiday and for the first time I can recall, many of us also celebrated Hanukkah. I love this time of year filled with tradition, gathering together and sharing.

The usual holiday reality is sparkling moments shining through quite a lot of disappointment, which is usually caused by the fact that we and those around us often fail in our duty to behave like Santa's perfect little elves.